Act 3
1. At the start of Act 3, Banquo expresses his unease. Rewrite this in how he
is thinking: You probably played dirty to get those positions, and I don't trust you.
Worried Macbeth may do something else stupid.
2. Who is Banquo: Macbeth's friend and a Scottish General, whose children are
predicted (by the witches) to be kings. Like Macbeth, he also has ambitions, but he
doesn't project his thoughts into actions.
3. Why is Banquos prophecy a problem for Macbeth now?: Because now he has
to take care of Fleance because he is supposed to be a king. Basically Macbeth did
all the dirty work for Fleance to do nothing.
4. Why does Macbeth not kill Banquo himself?: Because it is beneath him as
king, too emotional, and because they have connections.
5. What does LM mean by: "Naughts had, alls spent, where our desire is got
without content. Tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell
in doubtful joy.": Better to be dead like Duncan than live in uncertain happiness,
never know what will happen next.
6. How has LM changed over the acts: Her ambition is quelled, and she does not
want to kill as much, but she still calls Macbeth out with cowardness.
7. Has Macbeth changed over the course of the play so far?: YES- He has
become more ambitious, and superstitious of what the weird sisters said. Has no
more loyalty or kindness towards anyone, and has lost his mind just a touch
NO- He has always been ambitious and ruthless though, and as gotten out of hand
at times, especially in the battle at the beginning of the play.
8. Who appears more controlled and composed in Act 3?: Lady Macbeth. Mac-
beth starts hallucinating of the dead Banquo, and has worry about everything that
happens now in their day to day life. He has become superstitious to the extreme.
1/5
, Act 3
9. "We have scorched the snake, not killed it". Who says this and what does it
mean?: Macbeth says it. It means that they have taken care of the problem for now,
but it will come back to bite them in the end.
10. How does the banquet scene show the effects of guilt on the human
mind?: It starts to make you go crazy with sadness, and anger with the fact that
you know you did something wrong. Macbeth in this situation hallucinates, becomes
really scared and jumpy, and freaked out over all.
11. How does LM react to Macbeths behavior at the supper?: She basically is
confused at first, and blames it on a childhood illness of the head. Macbeth becomes
more and more wild, and she freaks out a little bit, calling him a child, and telling
him that he is ruining dinner for everyone.
12. How do the events of Act 3 relate to the topic of APPEARANCE versus
REALITY?: Macbeth and LM seem cool on the outside but are breaking internally,
2/5
1. At the start of Act 3, Banquo expresses his unease. Rewrite this in how he
is thinking: You probably played dirty to get those positions, and I don't trust you.
Worried Macbeth may do something else stupid.
2. Who is Banquo: Macbeth's friend and a Scottish General, whose children are
predicted (by the witches) to be kings. Like Macbeth, he also has ambitions, but he
doesn't project his thoughts into actions.
3. Why is Banquos prophecy a problem for Macbeth now?: Because now he has
to take care of Fleance because he is supposed to be a king. Basically Macbeth did
all the dirty work for Fleance to do nothing.
4. Why does Macbeth not kill Banquo himself?: Because it is beneath him as
king, too emotional, and because they have connections.
5. What does LM mean by: "Naughts had, alls spent, where our desire is got
without content. Tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell
in doubtful joy.": Better to be dead like Duncan than live in uncertain happiness,
never know what will happen next.
6. How has LM changed over the acts: Her ambition is quelled, and she does not
want to kill as much, but she still calls Macbeth out with cowardness.
7. Has Macbeth changed over the course of the play so far?: YES- He has
become more ambitious, and superstitious of what the weird sisters said. Has no
more loyalty or kindness towards anyone, and has lost his mind just a touch
NO- He has always been ambitious and ruthless though, and as gotten out of hand
at times, especially in the battle at the beginning of the play.
8. Who appears more controlled and composed in Act 3?: Lady Macbeth. Mac-
beth starts hallucinating of the dead Banquo, and has worry about everything that
happens now in their day to day life. He has become superstitious to the extreme.
1/5
, Act 3
9. "We have scorched the snake, not killed it". Who says this and what does it
mean?: Macbeth says it. It means that they have taken care of the problem for now,
but it will come back to bite them in the end.
10. How does the banquet scene show the effects of guilt on the human
mind?: It starts to make you go crazy with sadness, and anger with the fact that
you know you did something wrong. Macbeth in this situation hallucinates, becomes
really scared and jumpy, and freaked out over all.
11. How does LM react to Macbeths behavior at the supper?: She basically is
confused at first, and blames it on a childhood illness of the head. Macbeth becomes
more and more wild, and she freaks out a little bit, calling him a child, and telling
him that he is ruining dinner for everyone.
12. How do the events of Act 3 relate to the topic of APPEARANCE versus
REALITY?: Macbeth and LM seem cool on the outside but are breaking internally,
2/5
